The Council of Europe has warned Spain of an urgent requirement for a national anti-corruption strategy, highlighting gaps such as the lack of a central coordinating body and lobbying regulations, alongside cases like Begoña Gómez and David Sánchez. Rapporteur Tekke Panman’s preliminary memorandum also flags attacks on judges and political polarisation as key obstacles, urging stronger judicial protections and law enforcement accountability.
The Council of Europe has issued a stark warning to Spain, demanding an urgent national anti-corruption strategy amid ongoing high-profile cases and systemic shortcomings. Dutch rapporteur Tekke Panman, in a preliminary memorandum presented to the committee on legal affairs and human rights, declared:
“The situation in Spain demonstrates the urgent need for a coherent national anti-corruption strategy”.
This 12-page document, to which ABC has had access as reported in Sur in English, reviews Spain’s delays in implementing prior guidance, European Commission rule-of-law warnings, and significant corruption cases, bringing international scrutiny to the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Panman, who has compiled shortcomings since September, points to the absence of a central coordinating body to combat corruption and comprehensive lobbying regulations, describing the latter as
“one of the Spanish integral systems biggest shortcomings”.
He further warns that Spain must strengthen law enforcement to ensure accountability and protect the judiciary from
“seriously damaging attacks that are, in essence, baseless”.
The memorandum spotlights cases involving Begoña Gómez, wife of Pedro Sánchez, and David Sánchez, intensifying pressure on the Socialist-led administration.
Background on the Council of Europe Report
As reported by Sur in English, Tekke Panman’s initial conclusions do not bode well for Pedro Sánchez’s government, with the rapporteur set to present them formally before the Council of Europe’s committee on legal affairs and human rights. The document exhaustively reviews Spain’s implementation of prior anti-corruption guidance, noting delays and ineffectiveness, as well as European Commission concerns over the state of the rule of law.
Panman has indicated next steps including hearings with experts, potentially involving representatives from GRECO—the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body—and the Spanish government. He emphasised that future reports will propose measures to “help Spain combat corruption” and address “personal attacks on judges”.
The rapporteur identifies
“repeated political deadlock caused by marked polarisation”
as a key obstacle, stating:
“I consider it essential to ensure that anti-corruption measures remain free from political polarisation”.
He noted the law reforming the Public Prosecutor’s Office requires an absolute majority, complicating progress. Additionally, Panman plans measures to bolster judicial independence in Spain and beyond.
Key Shortcomings Identified
Spain lacks a central coordinating body to fight corruption, a gap Panman deems critical. There is also no comprehensive regulation of lobbying, which the rapporteur views as among the nation’s most significant systemic flaws.
Panman calls for bolstering law enforcement to guarantee accountability in corruption probes. The memorandum underscores the need to uphold judicial authority against baseless attacks.
Corruption cases involving the Partido Popular (PP) are included, offering a minor positive note for Sánchez, as the review also covers recent European instances. The document asserts:
“Corruption is not a problem affecting a single state, but a persistent threat that requires a robust and impartial domestic framework, international cooperation and a strong and independent civil society”.
Prior GRECO Evaluations and Compliance Failures
In a 2025 GRECO report covered by Ara, Spain failed to fully or partially comply with all 19 anti-corruption recommendations from 2019. GRECO noted partial non-compliance for 16 recommendations and total non-compliance for three, with six measures unaddressed by 2023.
The body acknowledged some progress but deemed it insufficient after six years of demands. GRECO required a new progress report by 30 June 2026.
PP sources described the findings as “more devastating”, criticising:
“It is not unusual that a government deeply affected by corruption like Sánchez’s does not want to lift a finger to eliminate it”.
The party renewed calls for elections.
Recent Spanish Government Responses
The Spanish government approved its first national anti-corruption plan in February 2026, as reported by Ara, comprising 84 measures to tackle “the entire cycle of corruption”. First Vice President and Finance Minister María Jesús Montero explained this at a press conference.
Key elements include an independent Public Integrity Agency merging the Office of Conflicts of Interest, Whistleblower Protection Authority, and National Anti-Fraud Coordination Service. The agency’s president will be appointed publicly with Congressional approval and serve as Spain’s top protector of EU financial interests against fraud.
A public “blacklist” of companies convicted of corruption, fraud, bribery, or money laundering is also planned.
The OECD’s Anti-Corruption and Integrity Outlook 2026 notes this State Plan to Combat Corruption, adopted in August 2025, as Spain’s inaugural government-level strategy.
High-Profile Cases Under Spotlight
The preliminary memorandum elevates cases of Begoña Gómez and David Sánchez to international attention. Begoña Gómez faces scrutiny over alleged influence peddling, while David Sánchez is linked to separate probes, though specifics remain under review.
Sur in English highlighted how these bring Sánchez’s inner circle into the global spotlight.
Political Reactions and Polarisation
Political deadlock from polarisation hinders anti-corruption efforts, per Panman. The PP’s response to GRECO echoed this, blaming Sánchez’s administration.
Euronews queried in April 2026:
“Shadows over Spain — will corruption topple Sánchez?”
Broader European Context
Panman’s review includes PP-related cases and European parallels, stressing corruption’s cross-border nature. GRECO’s repeated evaluations underscore persistent European oversight of Spain.
The OECD outlook positions Spain’s 2025 plan within wider integrity efforts.
Panman anticipates expert hearings and a fuller report with tailored measures. He prioritises de-politicising reforms and judicial safeguards.
GRECO’s deadline looms for Spain’s next update. The government’s plan promises institutional bolstering, yet implementation remains key.
